Favorite Singers/Lead Singers/Vocalists

Riddle101

As the title says, who are your favorite singers, lead singers or vocalists?

My all time favorite is James Hetfield. After that I would say Ozzy Osborne, Ronnie James Dio, Axl Rose, and Freddie Mercury.

Caoimhgh1n

Zoë.

Spudgun

Andrew Eldritch

buried

Tommy Makem & Liam Clancy

Amy Winehouse and her sultry, contralto voice; as raucous as her personality.

Was very surprised to hear on the radio today that Back to Black is 10 years old. Winehouse herself died five years ago this summer.

I remember the first few times I heard her on the radio in my college dorm, way back in 2007, I assumed she was black and huge, and maybe from the Caribbean; not some tiny Jewish girl from North London. Incredible voice altogether.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rylbj33b8qA

Rothko

Billie Holiday and Kate Bush

Alf Stewart.

Shane MacGowan. Seen him recently, new teeth, obviously just been through detox of some kind, cos there was few stone of fat lost, and had a real healthy glow about him too.

Don't Chute!

Mike Patton, Bob Dylan, Howlin Wolf.

SEPT 23 1989

Luke Kelly

YellowLead

Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam

The_Valeyard

Nina Simone singing 'Pirate Jenny'

Louis Armstrong 'Wonderful World'

Anna Caterina 'Carmen -Habanera'

Jimi Hendricks 'All along the Watchtower'

Billy Joel 'Goodnight my Angel'

AC/DC 'You shoot me all night long'

Whitesnake 'here I go again'

Mike Patton.

harry Bailey esq

Terry Hall,shaun ryder and as a previous poster mentioned,Amy winehouse.

Sue Pa Key Pa

Peter Gabriel
Karen Carpenter
Mary Black
Don Henley
Niamh Kavanagh (Google it young 'uns)
Chris Rea

funnights74

Robert Plant. Phil Lynnot.

irishguitarlad

Mike Patton is fantastic because he does everything, also a big fan of Chris Cornell.

Dave Gahan - Depeche Mode is my favourite front man.

But just for vocal ability, hard to beat Luther Vandross. Not really a big fan of his music, but he had an incredible voice.

Michael MacDonald of the Doobie Brothers was very good too. Unusual voice, very distinctive.

Ulysses Gaze

Mike Patton
Tom Waits
Bob Dylan
James Hetfield
Phil Lynott
Janis Joplin
Julianna Hatfield
Chris Cornell
Layne Staley
Blind Willie Johnson
Billie Holiday
Miljenko Matijevic
Howlin' Wolf

to name a few

lawlolawl

Neil Fallon from Clutch.

Really unique voice.

gossamer

Layne Staley

Lovely Bloke

Snoop Dogg

Arne_Saknussem

David Byrne
David St Hubbins
David Bowie

FrKurtFahrt

Tom Waits, Amy Whitehouse, Joni Mitchell, Maria Callas, Annie Lennox, Jack L - for starters

MRnotlob606

Paul Simon's voice.

Bonzo Delaney

Axl rose has redeemed himself this year
I'd also rate highly
Adam Duritz
Eddie Vedder
Patrick Sheehy ( walking on cars.)
Jimi Hendrix - while not technicality brilliant just oozes cool.

maudgonner

Van the Man.

Also (some of these have been posted already): Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Amy Winehouse, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Freddie Mercury.

Zxclnic

FrKurtFahrt wrote: »

Tom Waits, Amy Whitehouse, Joni Mitchell, Maria Callas, Annie Lennox, Jack L - for starters

I totally agree with you on Joni Mitchell, Maria Callas and Annie Lennox , three remarkably gifted singers.
However, both Tom Waits and Jack L are frauds of the first order.

If by Amy Whitehouse you mean Amy Winehouse, then yes please!

Grandeeod

What's wrong with you all?? Sure it's gotta be Simon Le Bon?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K0jE-Nr5Io

FrKurtFahrt

Zxclnic wrote: »

I totally agree with you on Joni Mitchell, Maria Callas and Annie Lennox , three remarkably gifted singers.
However, both Tom Waits and Jack L are frauds of the first order.

If by Amy Whitehouse you mean Amy Winehouse, then yes please!

Oops, Winehouse, yes!

I think Tom Waits to be a genius, and Jack L's voice to be vocal chocolate. Remember, it's all about personal favourites - there are many names listed on this thread that I disagree with also.

me_irl

Mike Patton - for his range and overall weird-as-f*ck-ness. (See Fantomas or those songs he did with Bjork).
Chris Cornell - His early "voice" Soundgarden/Temple of the Dog-era... When he could reach the highs.
Eddie Vedder - same.
Maynard James Keenan - he may be an arrogant fecker, but can hold a note!
Layne Staley - yerrrrrrr.

Outlaw Pete

Springsteen.

He doesn't dance that much, but when he does, it's in the dark.

Vinculus

Trent Reznor

Zxclnic

Outlaw Pete wrote: »

Springsteen.

He doesn't dance that much, but when he does, it's in the dark.

Just as well it's in the dark where no one can see him, for he can't dance for toffee....
......Great singer though;)

DJIMI TRARORE

Mr Robert Zimmerman
The big O
Amy
Luke kelly
Kirsty Mccoll

Parachutes

Coldplay's Chris Martin, especially on the early stuff. So much vulnerability and emotion there. The newer material is a bit overproduced and underwhelming. Shame.

Liam Gallagher before he destroyed his vocal chords with fags and the booze.

Dolores O Riordan's lilt is something to behold.

If I had to pick just one, I'd go with Björk. Not only does she have an incredible voice but she's also a wonderful songwriter, innovator and artist.

Honourable mentions: Thom Yorke, Nick Cave, Cat Power, Stevie Nicks, Sinéad O'Connor when she's on form.

PressRun

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Amy Winehouse and her sultry, contralto voice; as raucous as her personality.

Was very surprised to hear on the radio today that Back to Black is 10 years old. Winehouse herself died five years ago this summer.

I remember the first few times I heard her on the radio in my college dorm, way back in 2007, I assumed she was black and huge, and maybe from the Caribbean; not some tiny Jewish girl from North London. Incredible voice altogether.

A voice with loads of character and personality. Instantly recognisable and probably the best female voice of the last decade or so. The way she was treated in life was nothing short of shameful though. I clearly remember being online the day she died and the way some people seemed to almost take glee in her death was disturbing. It's a bit mad when you think about how much people preach about sensitivity when it comes to mental health issues and what have you that she was kicked so hard when she was down. She was a great talent who unfortunately seemed to be surrounded by antagonistic figures and absolute chancers especially towards the end of her life. Always liked her more low-key performances. This one filmed in Dingle is great:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_25S5BgTlg

I know Frank Sinatra was a hugely inspirational vocalist for Winehouse and I'd also be a fan of his sort of half-talking/half-singing way. There was a real honest simplicity to his vocal style. It's amazing to think how many imitators he has had and yet he still sounds like one of a kind, to me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avU2aarQUiU

Wigglepuppy

Loads mentioned.

Also Johnny Cash and Jim Morrison (similar voices I think), Prince, PJ Harvey and her mother in music Patti Smith, Morrissey, John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Nico, Lana Del Rey, Black Francis, Bryan Ferry, Robert Smith, Robert Plant, Kristin Hersh, Stevie Nicks, Nick Drake, Paul Weller.

Probably loads more. I love a bit of singin so I do.

Summer wind

Annie Lennox
Billy Idol
Billy Joel
Debbie Harry
Bob Marley
Bob Seger
Jimmy Sommerville
Bruce Springsteen
Bryan Ferry
Bryan Adams
Cyndi Lauper
David Bowie
Dean Martin
Dave Ghan
Don Henly
Ben E King
Stevie Nicks
George Michael
Axel Rose
Michael Hutchence
Joe Cocker
John Mellencamp
Johnny Cash
Laura Brannigan
Mick Jagger
Nat King Cole
Otis Redding
Phil Collins
Phil Lynott
Prince
Freddie Mercury
Randy Travis
Robert Palmer
Rod Stewart
Roy Orbison
Sade
Sam Cooke
Stevie Wonder
Tina Turner
Tom Jones
Willie Nelson
Van Morrison

PressRun

Bowie also had a great voice.

LordSutch

Peter Gabriel
Amy Winehouse
Freddie Mercury
Karen Carpenter
Crystal Gayle
Adele

Just a few of my faves ...

YellowLead

Oh and for female - Grace Slick from Jefferson Airplane

me_irl

YellowLead wrote: »

Oh and for female - Grace Slick from Jefferson Airplane

Kate Bush is up there for me. Haunting.

Notsomindful

Neil Sedaka
Leonard Cohen
Karen Carpenter
Shirley Manson
Jonie Mitchell
Freddie Mercury

me_irl

Notsomindful wrote: »

Shirley Manson

Is that yer one from Garbage? If so... agree.

Tilikum

Eddie Vedder
Sinead O'Connor
Luke Kelly
Lisa Gerrard
Jonie Mitchell

Cortina_MK_IV

Steve Perry. - Journey.

Nina Simone's mellow piano stuff. So many ineffably comforting pieces of music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q7w7gk1JhQ

Alessia Tondo singing Ludovico Einaudi's Nuvole Bianche

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-HsW142T5g

Beth Gibbons (Portishead), ooozing sex appeal:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg1jyL3cr60

Camille O'Sullivan singing Nick Cave's The Ship Song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdLrwH2Ib68

irish bloke

Neil Young

Wigglepuppy

PressRun wrote: »

A voice with loads of character and personality. Instantly recognisable and probably the best female voice of the last decade or so. The way she was treated in life was nothing short of shameful though. I clearly remember being online the day she died and the way some people seemed to almost take glee in her death was disturbing. It's a bit mad when you think about how much people preach about sensitivity when it comes to mental health issues and what have you that she was kicked so hard when she was down. She was a great talent who unfortunately seemed to be surrounded by antagonistic figures and absolute chancers especially towards the end of her life.

Watched the documentary simply called Amy (beautiful piece of work) and a Janis Joplin documentary in quick succession recently - may as well have been about the same person at times.

parttime

Kate Bush
Becky Unthanks
Rachel Unthanks
Roy Orbison
Nina Simone
Dolly Parton
Alison Krauss
Bruce Molsky
Nick Cave
Julie Fowlis
Tim Obrien
Dock Boggs
Bjork
Clifton Hicks
Jack White
Johnny Cash
Suzane Cox
Dan Tyminski
Kathleen MacInnes
Tommy Jarrell
Polly Harvey
Ralph Stanley
Clare Torry
Elizabeth Fraser
Everly Brothers
Sandy Denny
Some of these just for their voice alone, some just for their sheer artistry or magnetism, call it what you will.
Some just for one song, some just for one particular warble or harmony on one track, you know how it is.
There are more... and lots of them